Friends and Crocodiles

Set against the backdrop of Britain in the 80s and 90s, Poliakoff’s magnificent Friends and crocodiles (2005) tells the story of this rapidly changing business world through the working relationship of two very different people. It is both a deeply moving personal story and a panoramic view of a society in the grip of cataclysmic change.

Damian Lewis play Paul, an inspirational if somewhat eccentric entrepreneur. Paul is a Gatsby-like figure, who loves hosting the most fabulous parties, “collecting” interesting people, and dreaming visionary urban landscapes. Against Paul’s creative genius, Jodhi May plays Lizzie, the down-to-earth, practical woman who becomes Paul’s secretary and tries to bring some order to his chaos.

Although Paul is an inspiring mentor to Lizzie, his enthusiasm and creativity have a destructive streak, and their relationship ends in a terrible row, when they vow never to see each other again.

"I’ve always been fascinated by how we’re affected by people who mentor us early on in our careers," Poliakoff explains. "We think about them often for the rest of our lives. We constantly want to please them but, if they behave badly, it feels like a terrible betrayal, almost worse than a sexual betrayal."

Years later they meet again by chance, and now the world has changed : Lizzie has made it in the new corporate world, whereas Paul continues to dream. In spite of their differences, however, they come to accept that they were born to work together.

For Poliakoff, the film is about “work, ambition, aspiration, respect, self-esteem, which are all things that motivate us as much as, if not more than sexual love. We work longer hours than anyone else in Europe and often see more of our work colleagues than our families."

However, the film is also about that defining period in contemporary Britain. As Poliakoff puts it : "Most of all, the film is about how many certainties have melted away as things have become much more fluid and fast.”

Friends and Crocodiles

Set against the backdrop of Britain in the 80s and 90s, Poliakoff’s magnificent Friends and crocodiles (2005) tells the story of this rapidly changing business world through the working relationship of two very different people. It is both a deeply moving personal story and a panoramic view of a society in the grip of cataclysmic change.

Damian Lewis play Paul, an inspirational if somewhat eccentric entrepreneur. Paul is a Gatsby-like figure, who loves hosting the most fabulous parties, “collecting” interesting people, and dreaming visionary urban landscapes. Against Paul’s creative genius, Jodhi May plays Lizzie, the down-to-earth, practical woman who becomes Paul’s secretary and tries to bring some order to his chaos.

Although Paul is an inspiring mentor to Lizzie, his enthusiasm and creativity have a destructive streak, and their relationship ends in a terrible row, when they vow never to see each other again.

"I’ve always been fascinated by how we’re affected by people who mentor us early on in our careers," Poliakoff explains. "We think about them often for the rest of our lives. We constantly want to please them but, if they behave badly, it feels like a terrible betrayal, almost worse than a sexual betrayal."

Years later they meet again by chance, and now the world has changed : Lizzie has made it in the new corporate world, whereas Paul continues to dream. In spite of their differences, however, they come to accept that they were born to work together.

For Poliakoff, the film is about “work, ambition, aspiration, respect, self-esteem, which are all things that motivate us as much as, if not more than sexual love. We work longer hours than anyone else in Europe and often see more of our work colleagues than our families."

However, the film is also about that defining period in contemporary Britain. As Poliakoff puts it : "Most of all, the film is about how many certainties have melted away as things have become much more fluid and fast.”

Elisabetta, I liked the film very much too, but it is a bit of a romantic view of the 80s and 90s, don’t you think ? The French film, which I haven’t seen, seems a lot more gritty, and I was wondering if there is another UK film that represents the world of work in a similar way. Can you think of any ?

Friends and Crocodiles23 octobre 2010 15:13, par Elisabetta

This was very a beautiful film by Poliakoff touching on some very relevant topics particularly in this period of crisis where there are no certainties. At the same time there is a glimpse of hope as Lizzie achieve her goal and gets career and success by working very hard and believing in it. Visually it is stunning (as all Poliakoff’s films). I have seen other of his films and a common trait is that he handles topics very delicately, almost whispering.